Elderly
villagers stage prayerful protest
Social critic Sulak: PM won't be swayed
Bangkok Post, Aug 23, 2000
The Assembly of the Poor yesterday
continued to mount pressure on the prime minister to hold talks with
protest leaders-but in a more subdued manner.
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| Members of the Assembly of the Poor rally at
Government House. _ APICHIT JINAKUL |
Instead of dramatic moves such as scaling the wall of Government House
or staging a hunger strike, this time 200 elderly villagers wore white,
carried banners with messages with religious overtones, and performed a
meditatory walk around Government House yesterday afternoon. They also
squatted on the hot asphalt road to pray.
Last week, the assembly sent an invitation to Chuan Leekpai to dine and
talk with core leaders. The move reportedly was suggested by social reform
advocate Prawase Wasi.
Sulak Sivaraksa, a prominent social critic, warned villagers to expect
the worst.
"Don't expect that this kind of tactic will draw compassion from a
government which has ignored the poor people's problems," he said.
But he advised villagers to continue the non-violent protest "to
prove to middle-class people that villagers have really suffered".
Since the arrival of the protesting villagers in Bangkok, Mr Sulak
said, some middle-class people had begun to understand their plight
better.
"That is a remarkable start. But it still will be a very, very
long fight," he told the villagers.
Meanwhile, Vichit Leethammachaiyo, a criminal court chief judge,
yesterday warned the 225 villagers who were charged with trespassing on
Government House to report to the court today or face another charge of
jumping bail.
The villagers were arrested after staging a late-night raid on
Government House on July 16, which culminated in a melee between riot
police and other protesters outside the compound the next day.
They were released on bail after Chamroen Waraporn, president of the
Lawyers Association, posted bail for them. They found out later that Mr
Chamroen had close ties with several Democrat politicians. Since then they
have insisted they will not answer court summonses and would be prepared
to be arrested.
Mr Chamroen reportedly will seek a second postponement in court today,
following his first request on July 27.
He denied he was acting on behalf of the Democrat Party and said he
would seek court postponements as often as legally allowed.
In another development, a member of the Assembly of the Poor yesterday
submitted a letter asking the chief Appeals Court judge to explain why the
Kalasin court had refused to grant bail to Raemlek Ninnuan even after
three senators had put up a guarantee for him.
Mr Raemlek was arrested July 16 on a charge of encroaching on Phuphan
National Park. The court reportedly said Mr Ramlek, if released, would
pose a threat to witnesses in the case.
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